In the Lone and Level Sands

by David Lovato

  “Sure thing,” Christian said. He looked at John. “Just show me where the pallet is, and I’m glad to help.”

  John sighed and led the way to the back room.

  Jordan dialed Aiden’s number, but after several rings, he got Aiden’s voicemail.

  “Fuck!”

  “No answer?” Ashley asked. Jordan shook his head.

  “It’s okay, Jordan,” Evelyn said. “I’m sure he and your parents are okay.”

  “I hope you’re right. I can’t even try Drew, his phone’s been broken for weeks.”

  After the entrances were blocked and all the additional entrances were locked, everyone gathered between the registers and the aisles.

  Ashley’s phone began vibrating and playing “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga. She jumped, then collected herself and answered it. After she finished on the phone, she closed it and slipped it back into her pocket with a fragile smile.

  “My mom is doing okay,” Ashley said. “She’s safe at home.”

  Jordan looked at her. “Good, I’m glad—”

  Jordan’s phone rang. He pulled it out and saw that it was Aiden.

  “Aiden, are you guys okay?”

  “It’s just me now, man.” Aiden sounded like he had been crying.

  “What do you mean?” Jordan asked. Ashley looked over, worry spreading over her face.

  “Drew… He went nuts and tried to attack me. I didn’t know what to do. I tried pushing him away, but then… I had to defend myself. What the fuck’s going on, Jordan?”

  “I—I don’t know. Is Drew… dead?”

  “I had my pocket knife on me, and…”

  Jordan took a deep breath and winced, and then let it out. “It’s okay. Where are you at?”

  “I’m at the Ferrington gas station. I’m alone. Are you still at work? We were coming to see you.”

  “Yeah, I’m still here, with others. We can come get you. Stay put, Aiden. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  “Okay,” Aiden said. “There’s a good number of ‘em out there. Be careful. Thanks.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Jordan hung up and turned to the others. “Change of plans. I need to help another friend. He’s at the gas station. He hasn’t been bitten, but he needs help.”

  “No one’s going outside,” John said.

  “Are you going to stop me from helping my friend?”

  “I don’t want those things getting through those doors.”

  “It’s not safe out there, kid,” Christian said. Jordan frowned. “Alone, I mean. I’ll go with you. We can make a run for it and get your friend.”

  “Thanks, Christian,” Jordan said.

  “Don’t mention it, kid.”

  Ashley grabbed Jordan’s hand as he followed Christian toward the south entrance. Jordan turned toward her, and Christian stopped to wait.

  “Jordan, be careful out there. Don’t get into too much trouble.” Ashley played her emotions off with a roll of the eyes, a sigh, and a forced laugh.

  “I’ll be fine, Ash. We’ve got it covered. Ready, Christian?”

  The scruffy-faced man nodded, and pulled back the pallet that blocked their exit. Jordan looked back at Ashley and smiled.

  “Wait, you’ll need these,” Evelyn said. Jordan turned and Evelyn tossed her keys to him. Jordan caught them, and nodded.

  “Thanks.”

  “Just come back safe,” she said.

  “Will do!”

  Jordan unlocked the door, and he and Christian hurried to the outer doors.

  “Let’s get your friend, kid,” Christian said. He opened his gun to check how many shots he had left and frowned. “I’m going to need to stop by my truck on the way. I need ammo. That one.” He pointed, and Jordan nodded. The door whined when it opened, and they stepped out.

  The parking lot was mostly empty of cars. The ones that remained likely belonged to people who died within the Ferrington. Jordan and Christian exchanged nervous glances.

  Several zombies shambled among the parking spaces. Jordan and Christian hurried as fast as they could toward the beaten-up pickup near the cart return. Several zombies saw them and hobbled their way. They were very slow, so Jordan and Christian weren’t too worried.

  “Get in,” Christian said. “I’ll grab my ammo, and then we can head out.”

  They got into the truck with the zombies a safe distance away. Christian rummaged through the console of the truck, and Jordan looked through the glovebox.

  Jordan looked up for a moment and saw the zombies were coming closer. “How do you not know where it is?”

  “It’s in here,” Christian said as he rooted around in the truck. Jordan picked up a small weather radio, hardly seeing it. He was thinking about the face Ashley made when she knew what he’d be risking going outside the store. He thought about his parents, hoping they were safe. Drew was one of his best friends, and he was already gone. Jordan didn’t want to lose anyone else.

  “You should bring that,” Christian said. Jordan returned to reality and looked at the radio in his hands. “Jackpot!” Christian lifted a Ziploc bag filled with bullets. “Let’s go!”

  “You keep them in a Ziploc bag?” Jordan asked, not suppressing a laugh.

  “Where would you keep them?”

  “Touché.”

  Christian reloaded his gun, and then he and Jordan got out and headed for the gas station. There were at least half a dozen zombies around the pumps, and Jordan thought of all of the gas stations he’s blown up playing Left 4 Dead.

  They had just about entered the double doors when a screeching of breaks and smashing of metal and glass erupted nearby. They flipped around and saw a car that had lost a brief and deadly battle with a tree. Despite the zombies behind them, they stood and looked for moment.

  “Jesus Christ,” Christian said.

  “Let’s go!” Jordan said. Most of the zombies had turned their attention to the wrecked car, but the closest ones remained interested in them. Christian fired a few times, killing the closest ones.

  The gas station was small and didn’t have a lot to offer as far as adequate hiding spaces, but it seemed to be abandoned. Neither Jordan nor Christian heard a sound, so they felt safe for the moment as they looked for Aiden. They found him in the back room, shaking, his clothes and hair covered with Drew’s blood.

  “Aiden… I’m glad you’re okay,” Jordan said. “I’m just glad you didn’t get bit.”

  “I’m fine. Drew… I wish this didn’t happen to him. What the fuck? What the fuck is going on here? Who is this, anyway?” Aiden smoothed back his hair, and when he looked at his hands, his eyes widened. “Fuck!”

  “Aiden, it’ll be fine, try to calm down. There’s a rack of Royals merch back at the store. If you want, you can change shirts and wash up in the bathroom. But first we have to get back there, it’s not safe here.”

  As the three of them hurried toward the store, Christian said, “Hey, guy, I’m sorry about your friend. It ain’t easy, I know.”

  “Thanks,” Aiden said, but it didn’t really make him feel better.

  “Name’s Christian, by the way.” Aiden smiled a little, and not another word was said before they got back. They entered the store, and Jordan locked each set of automatic doors behind them.

  Jordan helped the others move the pallets in front of the door again, then went into the restroom Aiden had gone into to change. Aiden was shirtless, washing the blood from his arms and chest.

  “It all just happened so fast,” he said. “He just began acting really weird. Like, he wasn’t talking to me. We were looking at some magazines, and then he dropped his and just attacked.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” Jordan said. “I wish it didn’t have to be him.” Jordan leaned against the bathroom wall, stared off into nothing. Aiden didn’t say anything, but finished washing up and put a new shirt on. “Well, guess we better get back with the others. We need to gather some food and shit to take upstairs with us.”

  “All r
ight, man.” Aiden smiled. “Thanks for coming for me, Jord.”

  “Hey, man, you would’ve done the same for me. No worries.”

  They left the bathroom and met up with the others. Jordan approached Christian; he had been meaning to ask him something since the parking lot.

  “Christian?”

  “What’s up, kid?”

  “I was just wondering. You could have just left in your truck when we went out there, and left us all here.”

  “Yeah, what’s your point?” Christian said.

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “You guys needed my help. Besides, there’s nothing for me out there. My parents are dead, and as far as I know, I have no family.”

  “I’m sorry, Christian,” Jordan said.

  “It’s part of life. Death happens. Right now, I want to help you all, if I can.”

  “That means a lot.”

  “Hey, I wonder if there’s any helpful info on the news,” Christian said.

  “Oh yeah.” Jordan pulled the radio from his pocket, turned it on, and tried every station, but the only thing he heard was static.

  24

  In the Wilderness

  The fog set in before they reached Astoria. It was still bright out, but everything was shrouded in white. Layne couldn’t make out anything but the tall, dark pillars that were the trees. The survivors stayed close to each other. Layne tried to keep them going in a straight line, moving only to avoid a tree or bush before getting back on track. He had no compass, and they needed to keep north.

  “Does anyone have the time?” Layne asked.

  “That reminds me,” Dex said. “My watch, it uses satellites, so it’s never wrong.”

  “That’s great, Dex.”

  “Only it’s not working. And it hasn’t been since I woke up.”

  “It was in a plane crash, Dex.”

  “No, it works,” Dex said. He showed Layne the watch. “But it has no signal.”

  “It’s 4:45,” an older man said.

  “Thanks…”

  “Warren,” the man said.

  “Thanks, Warren.” Layne had expected to be in Astoria by now.

  “Are we lost?” Katie asked Layne quietly. “The pilot said we could get there by afternoon, but the sun will be down soon.”

  “I don’t know,” Layne said. “I’m thinking, I’m hoping we’re just moving slowly.”

  Layne didn’t want to spend another night in the forest. He wasn’t sure what the woods held. While awake and traveling they were fine, but at night, with everyone sleeping, bad things could happen.

  “You know, we hadn’t even talked about having kids,” Paul said to Jessi. She was leading Kara by the hand.

  “We haven’t talked about a lot of things,” Jessi said.

  “Exactly!” Jessi shot him a glare, letting him know that she didn’t mean that in a good way. “Well, what I mean is… I’m just saying, don’t get too attached to this girl. I mean, I’m sure she’s got family somewhere, and she’ll go stay with them once they come get her from Astoria.”

  “Paul, just shut up, will you? Let’s just stay focused on right now.” Paul fell silent.

  “You don’t talk much,” Layne said to the younger man from the front of the plane. Layne couldn’t remember him saying anything at all since they met.

  “Not much to say. I’m Kyle.”

  “Well, Kyle,” Layne said, “everything is going to be okay once we get to Astoria.”

  “Shut the fuck up. No it isn’t.”

  Layne didn’t know how to respond. Kyle sighed. “I know you’re trying to keep us all calm, but I’m not calm. And I’m not easily bullshitted. I know once we get to Astoria, things are just going to get worse. And judging by how you’re carrying yourself, so do you.”

  The ground below changed. Layne looked down and saw pavement. Dex reached it next, tripped on the edge, and fell. Lacie laughed. Dex’s wasn’t hurt, save for his pride. Lacie helped him up.

  “It’s a road,” Layne said. He looked along the big gap in the trees. The road curved north just a few yards away.

  “So we just follow this to Astoria?” Warren asked.

  “Yeah,” Layne said. “We’ll keep on the side of the road in case any cars pass by. Maybe we can even hitch a ride there!” Some of the survivors looked pleased by the thought, but Layne looked at Kyle, and Kyle’s face said he knew better.

  It was getting darker, and the fog wasn’t letting up. A small group of houses dotted the road, which opened up into the town shortly after. The houses were little more than big, angular monoliths in the endless white. There wasn’t a soul in sight.

  “Hello?” Dex shouted. “Is anybody out there?”

  “Quiet,” Layne said. Dex looked at him.

  “What the hell for? We’re here, man! We made it!”

  “Just… wait, a minute.”

  There was a noise in the distance. It sounded very far away, and very quiet.

  “What is that?” Dex asked.

  “I don’t know,” Layne said. The group stopped walking.

  “Is it getting louder?”

  Layne listened. “No… there’s just more of it.”

  “Layne, what do we do?” Katie said.

  “I… don’t know,” Layne replied.

  Shapes appeared in the fog. They were much smaller than the trees had been, and they were moving. Every few seconds, several more appeared.

  “We may want to find some place to hide,” Layne said.

  One of the shapes stopped. Layne hadn’t realized how close it had gotten. He could still hardly see, but it appeared to be looking straight at them. Even through the fog, Layne could make out the blood all over its clothes.

  It made a noise that was halfway between a moan and a scream. Layne had never heard anything like it before. It was as though everything that had once made it human was now gone, replaced by something else.

  Most of the shapes stopped. Layne could tell they were turning toward the survivors. Then they started moving. The zombies couldn’t run, but they were getting faster; they approached at what was slightly slower than jogging speed.

  “Move!” Layne said.

  The one that was closest dove, and Layne hopped to the side. The zombie landed flat on the road. Layne turned to make sure the others were following him. As he looked back, he ran directly into a zombie, knocking them both down.

  The zombie turned to look at Layne, then bared its teeth. It scrambled to its feet, but Katie charged and knocked it back down before it could do anything. She helped Layne up.

  “Where do we go?” Dex asked.

  “Follow me, and stay close!” Layne replied. He didn’t want anyone to get lost in the fog.

  The zombies lunged at the survivors as they passed. There were more of the creatures the farther the group went into town.

  Layne took a left at Lexington Avenue. The street forked, and Layne led the group to the right, hoping to lose the zombies, but there only seemed to be more of them. A left on Kensington, and there were even more. Layne decided it was time to get off of the streets. He spotted a big yellow house.

  “In there!”

  “Gah!” Paul said. He had fallen too far behind, and was cornered by two of the zombies.

  “Paul!” Jessi said.

  “Get everyone into that house,” Layne told Dex. He headed back to help Paul, while Dex led the way to the front door.

  “Come on everyone, this way!” Dex said. He knocked on the door, but nothing happened.

  “Hey! Hey! Over here!” Layne said. One of the zombies turned away from Paul to see what the commotion was.

  Dex could hear the moans and groans getting louder, closer, more numerous. He tried the knob. The door was locked. He kicked it, but all that did was hurt his ankle.

  Layne grabbed the zombie that had turned to look at him and shoved it as hard as he could. It went stumbling along with no sense of balance or direction, tripped over its feet, and fell. The other one grabbed Paul
, who put his hands up, one on the zombie’s forehead, the other on its chin. The zombie opened wide, but couldn’t get close enough to bite.

  “Paul!” Jessi said. Layne could tell she wanted to help, but she was carrying Kara.

  “I’ll take her!” Kyle said. He took Kara, who began crying. Jessi rushed to help Layne and Paul.

  Dex tried kicking the door again, and it felt like it gave a little bit, but it hurt his foot even more.

  Layne grabbed the zombie that was holding Paul and tried to yank it from him. He felt something at his ankle. The zombie he had pushed had crawled over to him and was about to make a meal of his foot.

  Jessi arrived and took over trying to pull the zombie off of Paul. Layne turned and kicked his own attacker square in the face. It barely recoiled. Layne tried to pull away, but the zombie had a good two-handed grip. It went to bite again.

  Dex raised his leg again, and thrust all of his weight forward. This time, the door gave. It snapped open, bounced off of something inside, and almost shut again. Dex stumbled forward and caught it, though he didn’t think it would matter; something had to have broken for it to open.

  Layne kicked the zombie again, to no avail. It was like it didn’t feel pain. It dragged itself forward, inching its mouth toward his leg. Layne lifted his foot and stomped on the zombie’s head as hard as he could. It smashed into the cement. The zombie was motionless for a moment, then it moved slightly. Layne stomped again. And again. And again, until there was nothing left to stomp. Then he pulled his leg free.

  “Everyone inside, after me!” Dex said. He wanted to go in first to make sure there weren’t any zombies in there, but as soon as he took a step, he collapsed from the pain in his ankle.

  Warren passed him and looked around. It was dark, but he saw no movement. He helped Dex up, and the two entered, followed by Kyle carrying Kara, who was crying loudly.

  “See if you can’t shut her up!” Dex said. He turned and limped back outside. “Lacie!” All he saw was fog.

  “Hang on Paul, I gotcha!” Jessi said. Layne joined her, and the two pulled the zombie from Paul. It fell to the ground, but pulled Paul down with it. Another zombie caught him from behind and sank its teeth into his shoulder. Paul screamed.